MFL

You live a new life for every language you speak. If you only know one language, you only live once.

Students with languages qualifications have a vast array of career opportunities open to them, ranging from work with well-known multinational companies to international organisations or charities. There are exciting opportunities – often involving travel abroad- in finance/ banking, sales, manufacturing, community/social services, research/medicine, transport/communication.

Studying a Modern Foreign Language opens doors to exciting careers in areas such as:

International relations

Media and journalism

The civil service and international agencies and embassies

International law

Interpreting and translating

International business management

The armed forces

The importance of languages cannot be downplayed in the current climate of extreme competition for university places and jobs.

MFL Lessons prepare pupils effectively for communicating successfully with speakers of French and Spanish. We aim throughout the year 7-9 curriculum to begin key preparation for the new, more rigorous GCSE exams, both in terms of content (extended and more challenging curriculum, with a focus on spontaneous speech in the target language) and developing exam skills. Activities such as transcribing audio, translating texts, participating in roleplays and discussing photo cards are new to the GCSE exam and therefore newly incorporated into our KS3 curriculum.

French: Students follow a scheme of work that is based around the “Allez” textbooks. Topics studied include “Myself and My Family”; “Describing School Life” and “My Home Area”; “Holidays”; “Sports and Leisure”; “Technology”; “Issues for Teenagers”; “Jobs and Ambitions for the Future”.

Spanish: Students follow a scheme of work that is based around the “Zoom” textbooks. Topics studied include “My Family”; “My School”; “My House and Area”; “Mealtimes and Healthy Eating”; “Holidays”; “TV and Media” and “My World”.

The new AQA GCSE specification for French and Spanish is a linear two-year course with no controlled assessment. The course aims to stimulate pupils’ cultural knowledge whilst developing their language skills, giving them the confidence to be able to communicate in a variety of contexts.

All assessments are based around the three themes of ‘Identity and culture’, ‘Local, national, international and global areas of interest’ and ‘current and future study and employment’. The four key skill areas (listening, speaking, reading and writing) are assessed by final examinations at the end of the course.

A Level French and / or Spanish is a good choice for you if you enjoy language learning; enjoy learning about other cultures; want to communicate with speakers of a foreign language; want to work abroad; and want to develop opinions about current issues.

The A-level courses for French and Spanish build on the knowledge, understanding and skills gained at GCSE. They constitute an integrated study with a focus on language, culture and society. The courses foster a range of transferable skills including communication, critical thinking, research skills and creativity.

A LEVEL FRENCH

Pupils study technological and social change, looking at diversity and the benefits it brings. They study highlights of French-speaking artistic culture, including francophone music and cinema, and learn about political engagement and who wields political power in the French-speaking world.

Pupils explore the influence of the past on present-day French-speaking communities. Throughout their studies, they will learn the language in the context of French-speaking countries and the issues and influences which have shaped them. Students study texts and film and have the opportunity to carry out independent research on an area of their choice.

A LEVEL SPANISH

The course aims to develop pupils’ linguistic skills alongside their understanding of the culture and society of the countries where Spanish is spoken. Pupils study technological and social change, looking at the multicultural nature of Hispanic society. They study highlights of Hispanic artistic culture, including a focus on Spanish regional identity and the cultural heritage of past civilisations. They learn about aspects of the diverse political landscape of the Hispanic world.

Pupils explore the influence of the past on present-day Hispanic communities. Throughout their studies, they learn the language in the context of Hispanic countries and issues and influences which have shaped them. They study texts and film and have the opportunity to carry out independent research on an area of their choice.